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AMERICAN REBELLION, 



BY D. JOHNSTON. 



MILWAUKEE : 

PRINTED BY E, HILLER, CORNER OF EAST WATER & HURON ST=! 

1862. 



I I 1 >J CZ- V — i 



ox THE 



AMERICAN REBELION. 



BY D. JOHNSTON. 



MILWAUKEE : 

PPvINTED BY E. MILLlOll, COit.N'fia 01 KAST WATEl! .1; HUSi -y .-T.- 
1802. 






1 



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INTRODUCTION. 



The following lines were written as a kind of synop- 
sis of tlie unhappy incidents attending the development 
of this suicidal war. They were intended only for my 
own family, originally. They are destitute of all pre- 
tensions to poetry. The only recommendation to a 
favorable reception is their truthfulness, everything 
stated therein being susceptible of corroboration, by 
government documents. Calling in the aid of the 
Press to disceminate such a production ma^y savor of pre- 
sumption, but I shall have one consolation left in the 
event of my receiving castigation. and that is, in mat- 
ters of this kind, I shall be taught thereby to depend 
a little more upon my own judgment, and less upon 
that which is biased by the partiality of friendship. 

J). JOHNSTON. 

Milwaukee, March 22, 1862. 



THE AMSEICAN KEBELION. 



God of Wisdom — -God of Love ! 

Exalted on Thy throne abovej 

Deign to inspire my humble pen, 

To sing of measures and of men ; 

Especially those who seem to think 

This government will surely sink, 

And on its ruins, and its sighs? 

Another form of rule, arise. 

More tasteful to the dust of schools, 

Who deem the million, naught but fools — 

And to the privileged few, belong, 

The power to guide the vulgar throng. 

Foes near at hand, . and from afar, 
Are pointing to this wi(3ked war, 
jis evidence of darling themes, 
Popular weakness — strength of Kings, 
The experiment of eighty yccirs, 
Hath neither mov'd their hopes, nor fears. 
But ending as they long foresaw, 
That numbers fail, in making law ! 
'Tis only for the sons of clay 
Who toil to willingly obey ; 



THE AMERICAN REBELLION. 

Nor speak, except it be in prayer — - 
More, 'tis impiety to dare. 
They trace our present breach of iaws^ 
To others, than the real cause, 
And haste they to promote infusion, 
Leading to more dire confusion, 
Ready, with free advice to lend. 
In plans, the state affairs to mend ; 
Or show the error of your ways. 
And lead you back, to brightef days, 
When men, to follow men, did kneel, 
Whose nod, decides the woe, or weal. 
Of hapless millions of the race, 
- Eternally to their disgrace. 

Of Sophists such as these, beware, 
And with a hempen noose, prepare, 
Their nostrums, and abuse, to meet, 
'T will prove a lamp, unto their feet ; 
Especially when at a height 
That soles and all can catch the light : 
'Tis meet to let them have their fling 
And high as their ambition swing. 

Let those against our nations weal, 
Be booked straight off to the Deil — 
Let John Brown's hangman be the first, 
Tho' he might not be quite the worst ! 
There's Rhett, Keits, and devious Pickens, 
Stand in need of wholesome lickings ; 
There's Pillow, Bragg, and Parson Polk, 



THE AMERICAN REBELLION. 

That's anxious to mislead the folk. 
With Breckenridge and all the rest, 
Who have in mischief, done their best. 

For salyatiou, Polk, ceased to pray, 
The Deil employs him now, to slay : 
Disolved communion with his Lord, 
He drops the crook, to grasp the sword ! 
Out Herods Herod, in a cause, 
Aim'd against ou.r life, and laws — 
For taking part, in such a crime. 
His name will stink, all coming time. 
By way of strong antithesis 
Be Brownlow's case, compared with his : 
See him on his bed of sickness, 
A lion's heart, a soul of meekness — 
His yielding up a well spent life, 
Shortened by this cursed strife ; 
A soul deemed, in kindred skies, 
A heaven accepted sacrifice — 
To all that's good, and great, and grand, 
Our Constitution — native land I 
In hymns of praise, and songs of glee, 
'Mong hills and dales of Tennesee I 
3Iost surely will brave Brownlow live, 
And to the patriot, vigor give. 

Breck' played liis part, full well, I ween, 
(A guarded, sneaking, go-between,) 
Till Washington became so hot, 
x\nd the foul tvaitov's pendant lot, 



THE AMERICAN REBELION. 

Upheaving to his mental view, 

He bids the scene a long adieu. 

Among the turbed crew he's lost, 

His stately form is tempest tost, 

For lest his brain should dare to think, 

He steeps it in the strongest drink, 

His fancy smells^of brimstone cloots, 

And snakes are twisting in his boots. 

Most fitting lesson to the band. 

Who, by their councils, cursed the land — 

A land by heaven's high behest, 

Of all that's good, supremely blessed. 

There's cunning Price, and wand'ring |Ben, 
Are drawing nigh to Satan's pen : 
They'll help to fill the Devil's mesh, 
Adroitly laid for foul Secesh. 
Meek eyed pity vibrates my pen, 
In speaking of such able men — 
I grieve to see them taking part. 
To stab their nation to the heart. 
Would not their talents grace a cause, 
That's based on equitable laws I 
Oh ! Cursed ambition, vain attempt ! 
To ruin righteous government. 
That by their best blood and bravery, 
The vile, odious sin of slavery 
Be duly made affixed crime, 
To damn our name all coming time. 
(When men stultify their reason, 
God makes them fools in due season.) 



THE AMERICAN REBELION. 

As for Floyd, I am free to tell, 
I doubt, they wont have him in h^ll : 
If goods can e'er belong to ill, 
The Devil likely, has his fill, 
And whether they were large, or small, 
Our Floyd in time, would grab them all : 
If chosen things, he has in store, 
Their loss, the Deil would soon deplore. 
If on them, Floyd, once cast his eye, 
The Deil would blame himself, and sigh, 
And swear that such a thief before. 
Had ne'er approached the Stygian shore : 
He therefore would in self protection, 
(Subord'nates having n'objection,) 
To please the Furies, and the Fates, 
Secure him, just outside the gates, 
That others, as they pass therein, 
Might mark the modern Cat aline — 
And learn, tho' it were all too late, 
A thieving traitor's, hapless fate. 
The part he played, in trait'rous lust, 
Betraying of a nation's trust ; 
While those in higher pow'r were sleeping, 
The potent means within his keeping 
Were ceded to the nation's foes, 
That deadlier might fall their blows. 
Against the government and laws, 
While they exult in fiends applause. 
In hopes, that on the nation's ruin, 
To build an odious despotism ! 



10 THE AMERICAN REBELLION.* 

The chiefs of armies and of iiavieB, 
Hastened to the flag of Davis. 
And fonnxl themselves in ample means, 
To justify Ambitious dreams, 
Unmindful of the nation's hlcod, 
Destined to die the heath and flood ; 
Nor di'eam they now of sad contrition, 
But in their cursed., wild ambition, 
Hail Palmetto's baneful star.. 
And plunge the nation into war ! 

And now that impious loud report, 
That's heard in Sumpter's lonely fort, 
Eeverberates across the main, 
And echo brings it back again ; 
And from the heads of sage devisers, 
Emperors and kings advisers, 
With schemes to cure our every ill — 
Our heads and hearts they try to fill. 
Deeming this a burstixg bubble. 
'Twere only to increase our trouble. 
To listen, or depend upon. 
Advisers who should look at home. 

Li mean time treason v^axes bold, 
In higher quarters manifold — 
State after State, they claim divorce. 
And bring unto the field, a force, 
Superior to the rank and file, 
(Tho' somewhat varied in stj^le,) 
To that at Government's command ; 



THE AMERICAN REBELLION. 11 

And fearlessly do take their stand, 
In face of an astounded world. 
Defiance to tlie Cap'tal hurled ! 

In all Departments of the State, 
Consider' d true, and loyal of late, 
Treason had lain adroitly smothered, 
Was now with impudence uncovered ! 
In all the councels of our nation. 
In either house of Legislation, 
Defection rears its brazen hen^L 
Patriotism prostrate — dead ! 
Ministers and Courts of Law, 
With, characters without a flaw, 
In eager haste desert their post, 
And of their treason freely host I 
Now, direst hatred marks their zeal, 
With deadly tube, and pointed steel. 
Now arrayed to mee^ their brother, 
Children of one weeping mother ! 
The Father seeks to slay the son, 
Whose cause a year ago was one ! 
Oh ! curse on this unholy war, 
Luring men from home afar ; 
But then our nation must be saved, 
And wars worst perils stoutly braved^. ' 
For who, by cowardly inaction, ^ \\' 

Would yield obedience to a faction, ^^ 
Whose every movement clearly show, 
Their will, tyrannic only, law ! 
To swell the enemy's cohorts. 



12 THE AMERICAN REBELION. 

Consuls came home from foreign Courts ; 

Territorial governments 

To treason became subservient. 

Our Mail, and Revenue concerns, 

Grave rise to sensitive alarms, 

In all Departments of the State, 

Were planning out the nations fate ! 

Villanous hearts, with lips of honey, 

Fat'ning on tho people's money ; 

Even the Indian Reserves, 

Its dish of treason, aptly serves. 

To dwell upon our ev'ry ill 

My little space, would more than fill : 

E'en History itself will fail 

To furnish up the black detail 

Of HelFs mirkiest cogitation, 

Served up to damn our happy nation ; 

Or how it sped, by aid of imps — 

Political, timeserving pimps. 

Grovernors, Judges, Legislators, 
Became Satanic agitators ! 
They dream of offices imperial, 
They taint the ear of ministerial 
Officers, in high position, 
Obedient to the law, transition ! 
Who ready are with supple knee. 
To bend to any powers that be, 
Provided, they secure a place, 
Their qualities will nicely grace. 
They're not so mindful of their pay — 



THE AMERICAN EEBELLION. 13 

Oa this, they little have to say. 
A marFie house is easy kept, 
When outs, and ins, are made to fit ; 
And smoothly rnn the carriage wheesL 
When horses, and when servants heels. 
Are metalized with yellow gold- 
It is but little, all being told ! 
That little, sure, thon'lt ne'er deny, 
When their importance you descry. 

The Capital is now beleaguered, 
From all the other States is severed : 
In front, a well directed foe, 
Eesolved to lay in ashes low, 
The stately edifice which bears a name, 
The highest on the scroll of fame ! 
Or hap'ly use its spacious hall, 
Wherein they safely, might enthrall ; 
Or dole out terms, which they deem meet, 
To a nation bleeding at their feet. 
Behind, and all around the dome, 
Was naught but enmity, and gloom : 
The gay gallant, the lascivious wit. 
The Pluo'-uo'lv. and the scented cit. 
In one fraternity were joined. 
In deep resolve, as one fell mind, 
To bring us to chaotic ruin ! 
By plans, that had been years brewing. 

The better to ensure their ends, 
And make to kindred imps amends, 



14 THE AMEEICAX EEBLLIOX. 

They held some fiends witliin then* pale, 

Who'd buTii a bridge, or break a rail — 

And cooly watch behind a hill, 

To see what power he had to kill ; 

The dreadful crash — the dead, the dying. 

In one commingled carnage lying ! 

He leaves : he has performed his part, 

Eeports, pay, and praises, reach his heart, 

And still more genial to his soul, 

He drowns reflection in the bowl, 

And by the morrows break of day. 

To play the part he did to day. 

Is ready, aye — without remorse, 

To do the like, or something worse. 

Even, on loyal Union ground, 
Secret societies were found, 
Who worked secure, behind the scenes, 
To furnish men, and other means. 
To strengthen the insurgent force ; 
And thus the unholy cause endorse ! 
Fortifications, Armies, Ships, 
Navy Yards, Arsenals, and Slips, 
Garrisons, and Military posts 
Erected at enormous costs, 
One after another, betrayed, 
And at the feet of Davis laid I 

Congi*ess in its careless bliss, 
Had not not anticipated this ; 
It scarcely would T)elieve tlie tidinos : 



THE AMERICAN REBELLION. 15 

Meager were their State providings, 
The Municipal powers iia active, 
, Judicial courts purificatiye. 
As lawyers, oft, are wont to be, 
When acting on prospective fee : 
They are called to act, now's the day, 
They exist only to betray ! 

Amid this villainous contention, 
They ask for foreign intervention; 
Blistered be that impious tongue. 
That mooted such insulting wrong. 
And blessed be that moderation. 
Which marked the sages of our Nation, 
And thwarted all their deep designs, 
And ushered in more hopeful times. 
But added to our Kst of harms. 
Be verses of our youthful arms, 
Marked the conduct of the v^ar, 
And gave our pride a fearful sear, 
Men cried out with seeming reason, 
*' This too's, the result of treason,'' 
This proved the measure of our grief ! 
A Nation hopeless of relief ; 
With foes without, and foes within, 
-Deadly foes in kith and kin : 
At every corner of the street, 
In every second man you meet, 
Grood Heaven ! save us from this plight, 
And chase away the clouds of night. 
Invited to thy mercy's seat. 



16 THE A3IERICA-N- REBELLION. 

Behold a Nation at tliy feet, 
Their sins in earnest, they deplore, 
Oh ! lift them np, to sin no more. 

The better to promote our cause, 
Suspended were, existing laws, 
A step, only, in insurrection, 
Warranted for our protection ; 
Treasonable correspondence. 
Was transmitted in abundance, 
A stretch, then, was necessary, 
Of powers extraordinary- 
New passport regulations, 
Met men of other nations ; 
Habeas Corpus now suspended, 
Looked as liberty were ended — 
Suspicion of intended treason, 
Placed the embryo safe in prison, 
And all his opposition fury. 
Will neither bring him judge or jury, 
But there he lies 'til time suffice. 
To clear him of the prejudice ; 
And ladies too, for there were plots, 
'Mong people wearing petticoats. 
Sometimes there came across the barrier, 
A pretty female letter carrier. 
Who never thought it greivous sin 
To use her ample crinoline ! 
While on a little secesh cooing. 

To carry tidings 6f our doing, - 

But Scott was getting very old, * 



THE AMERICAN REBELLION. 17 

His better feelings waxing cold ; 

He's nngallant, he's nothing less, 

To meddle with a lady's dress, 

And then to coop us up in jail, 

'As if we were but vulgar male, 

Only let us cross the borders, 

We'll join the ranks, as common soldiers ; 

And fight you while our life prevails, 

If minus arms, we'll take our nails ! 

• Turn we now to sing of treasures 

Able men, judicious measures 

In all the majesty of might 

Subduing wrong, exalting right. ^ 

And now is borne upon the breeze. 

Through glass eyes on the leafless trees 

A glorious voice to our relief; 

That well becomes our gallant chief : 

Six hundred thousand fighting men, 

If not enough, he'll call for ten ! 

With corresponding means to pay. 

Be furnished on a given day, 

' • The Union shall and must be saved, ' ' 

All delicacy now, is waived. 

This call was as a voice from Heaven, 

For Freedom, fresh assurance, given ; 

The man of many millions choice. 

In time of trouble, raised his voice, — 

He gave them all that they could ask. 

He proved him equal to his task. 

The stars upon the glorious emblem, 
b2 



18 THE AMERICAN REBELLION. 

If altered 'tvrould be by rulrleixd.vM, 
Never stripped of a single star, 
"VTliate'er the cost of this cruel Tvar. 



Now brightened as the summer sun, 
The radient face of every one, 
Who left their home in quick response, 
(A man cannot die but once) 
To noble Lincoln's timely call, 
Whate'er their fate to stand or fall. 
They ready were, with heart and soul, 
To place themselves at his control. 
At morning's dawn, and late at e'en, 
In princely hall, and village green, 
Men of every social phase, 
Most readily, the phalanx grace ; 
Men of labor, men of rank, 
Who own the riches of a bank, 
Stiu'dy yeomen, men of ease, 
Who ne'er before, d^d aught but teaze, 
All eager for iho ^h':-:J\Lxl fray. 
Impatient lest thev r::-e a day : 
No conscript means are needed here, 
To fill the ranks with force and fear. 
From beggar to the millionnaire, 
Are anxious all to take a share, 
Of whatsoever ills befall. 
And meet with promptitude the call, 
That takes them from their village green, 
To minc^le in the battle scene. 



THE AMERICAN REBELLION. 19 

They leave the counter, and the bench, 
For tented field, and sunken trench, 
They quit the anvil, and the loom, 
To help t' avert the Nation's doom. 
With rigid arm. and face uprisen, 
They place their confidence in Heaven, 
They swear, that 'til the battle's won, 
Never again to witness home. 

The veteran Scott, now all in tears, 
Full of honor' ble wounds, and years, 
To his honor, be it spoken, 
Proposed that dearest ties be broken, 
By yielding up the glorious van. 
To the prowess of a younger man : 
McClellan, Hero of the West ; 
Of all our Heroes proved the best : 
His tactics meet the eye of Scott, 
(And who that has perceived them not ?") 
For Constitution, and the law, 
He cleared the banks of Kanawha : 
And how he e'er got roimd that hill. 
In time to give secesh his fill, 
Of the hottest work that e'er befell 
Their any wing, this side of hell. 
It puzzles wiser heads than mine, 
It ne'er can be devized in rhyme. 
How 1 Civilians need not care, 
T'was doubtless a la milifaire, 
The man who bears the name of Wise, 
May tell you where the secret lies : 



20 THE AMERICAN REBELLION. 

How it came, let soldiers tell, 
I'm grateful, that it ended well. 



Scott takes McOlellan by the hand, 
They share the duties of command 
Mutually, for a season ; 
Rendered still more brief, by reason, 
Of the old Hejo's aching pains. 
Reluctantly he yields the reins, 
And seeks relief 'mong foreign men, 
To shield his country by his pen ; 
Returns to his beloved land. 
Resolved, by it, to fall or stand. 

We've seen the nation stand the test, 
The North, the Bast, the gallant West, 
With burning patriotic zeal. 
In brave defence of public weal. 
In lengthened trains of railroad cars 
They rush in thousands to the wars, 
From* history, you cannot glean. 
Accounts of such a glorious scene ; 
Full twenty men they muster now. 
To one, they had, a year ago. 
Three hundred thousand men, or more, 
Are mustered, on Potomac shore, 
And better paid, clothed, and fed, 
Than any, chieftain ever led ; 
Dark indeed, must be that soul. 
Who doubts the men, now in control, 



THE AMERICAN REBELLION. 21 

They prove themselves of master mind, 
And leave competitors behind. 
In marsh' ling this tremendous host, 
They're not nnmindful of the coast, 
That blockade may be more complete, 
They fill with stone an olden fleet ; 
And sink them, very near the place, 
We'll call Beauregard's Disgrace ; 
Where first to wound his nation's pride, 
He sent his shot across the tide ; 
And fed by Charleston j^pplause, 
Gave new life to a damning cause, 
They little thought, that all so soon, 
Rejoicings would be turned to gloom, 
That floating on a fort, hard by, 
The Stars and Stripes, would proudly fly. 
And cause them shake, in wholesome fear, 
That chastisement is all so near. • 

The day whereon Port Ppyal fell 
Was sounded,- the funereal knell. 
Of bold secesh, throughout the coast. 
We hear no more of vaunting boast, 
The fall of Hatteras they felt. 
And hotter things they doubtless smelt ; 
Eut who'd have thought, that Roanoke Isle, 
So easily would yield the while ? 
And while we threat, advance on RoUa, 
They cut and run from Pensacola ; 
But where they run, 'tis hard to say. 
They might cast up some other day 



22 THE AMERICAN REBELLION. 

But witere, or wlien tliey ever meet them, 
Our boys ready are to greet tliem. 

Our army on the Western waters, 
Every opposition scatters, 
At Cairo's point, matui'ed its strength, 
And kept our foes at its arm's length, 
To make a morning call on Floyd, 
They set sail on the silver tide, 
; The track of Floyd they failed to trace, 
But gave Fort Henry a warm embrace : 
Grant, placed our glorious flag thereon, 
Then cast his eye on Donelson, 
This potent arm of bold secession, 
(Mentally in his possession, ) 
Stretching out in brave defiance, 
Placing in their strength reliance. 
The hostile^armies meet, and fight, 
And Oh ! it was a glorious sight, 
The gioamin of that bloody day, 
Left doubtful, which, who held they sway ; 
Now, eager for the morrow's sun. 
To have the battle rebegun, 
The dawning east, so fair to see. 
Lit up the banks of Tennessee ; 
Oar Western heroes coolly stand, 
Li brave boats, and on the land. 
All eager to begin the fray, 
In confidence to win the day, 
Nor was their confidence misplaced. 
Nor were their opponents disgraced, 



THE AMERICAN REBELLION. 23 

Except in Floyd, who ran away, , 
To steal, or run some other day, 
Like devotee, or Granges giver, >-•■ 

He threw his arms all in the river. 
That as there were no carriage wheels, 
The nimbler might be made his 'heels. 
And now the doubt is past and gone. 
The battle fought — the battle won ; 
The fort lies. prostrate at his feet, 
Fifteen thousand prisoners ! greet 
Our Hero's victorious eye, 
Who even now, heaves a sigh, 
On asking one, with drooping head, 
*^ Where's Floyd?" '''Damn Floydl the sol- 
Floyd's off, we know not where, [dier said, 
Hope the wind may continue fair, 
To waft him to his final place. 
To any cause, he brings disgrace," 

Minus paper, minus time, 
I now close my rambling rhyme, 
In hopes soon to take occasion. 
To sing the Heroes of our nation, 
Who seem to vie with one another, 
Our pristine beauty to recover ; 
Glory be to our Grod on high. 
The day of jubilee is nigh. 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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